Yesterday

We were very lazy this weekend, after we returned from our Christmas travels to our snug home. It snowed. We watched out the window and didn't go anywhere. It snowed some more. We watched out the window and didn't even go out to the mailbox to get the morning newspaper. So there was snow on the sidewalk and in the driveway, maybe 3 inches.

I must explain, in our city, and most cities in Wisconsin, there are ordinances regarding snow removal on sidewalks. In most cases, it has to be cleared within 24 hours of when the snow stops or you can be fined. And we get a LOT of dog walkers on our sidewalk, so I could just see some Scrooge reporting us if we didn't take care of things.

Yesterday evening, Greg decided it was finally time to tackle the snow removal. He suited up--jeans, sweatshirt, snow boots, heavy coat, radio ear muffs so he doesn't lose his hearing to the snowblower, heavy gloves. He went out the door into the garage. He opened the garage door. He stood puzzled, looking at the cleared driveway and cleared front walk.

He turned around when he heard me laughing at him. At 9:00 yesterday morning, when Greg was in the basement with the girls, I got out of bed, went outside, started the snowblower, cleared the driveway, cleared the sidewalk, and got my newspaper. He had no idea.

I got a kiss when he came in.

Completely addicted

I don't usually tell stories about my husband because it gets me in trouble, but I'm risking it this time.

Last night, getting kind of late, girls sleeping upstairs, me reading in an easy chair, Greg stretched out on the couch watching TV Food Network.

Greg falls asleep holding the Tivo remote, and IN HIS SLEEP, starts rewinding the program he's not watching.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, he's so used to manipulating that remote control that he does it in his sleep.

I woke him up laughing.

New adventures

Well, here we go.

I just sent off the application materials to go back to school, starting in January. Twenty-two years have passed since I graduated and now I'm starting again, to pursue my master's degree in business administration.

I'm a little nervous.

Thumps and bumps

The girls are in school and Greg is back at work yesterday, after an enormous snowstorm dropped 18 INCHES of snow on us Wednesday. The house is quiet.

Then I hear a noise.

Thud, scrape, scrape, scrape.

Thud, scrape, scrape, scrape.

You know when you know you should go check out a noise but you don't really want to?

Thud, scrape, scrape, scrape.

Wait a minute--I know that sound.

I head upstairs to the linen closet and open the door. Sure enough, blinking up at me in the morning light is Simon the Cat, who obviously slipped into the linen closet when the girls got washcloths before they left for school.

He was in there for an hour and a half, at least. Stupid cat.

Delays in bedtime

Last night, Greg was at badminton when it was time for the girls to go to bed. Julia was tired, so I closed her door and she settled right down. Allie gets to read a book until 8:30, so I kissed her goodnight and went downstairs to fold laundry.

When I finished the laundry, I carried the basket to the foot of the stairs and placed it there, ready to go up. Then I sat down in the living room.

At 8:45, Allie came downstairs. "Mom, I have a loose string on my sleeve that I need to cut."

I rolled my eyes at her, thinking that was one of the lamest excuses she's ever come up with for coming downstairs to see what we're doing after her bedtime.

"And I thought I heard a burglar. There was a weird thump or something."

OK, lamest excuse bar that one.

I mowed yesterday

Yes, on December 1st, I mowed the grass. Greg decided the lawn needed one more trim before we consigned the lawn to the snow fairies until April, so I cut the grass. We have already had snow by the way--about 1/2 inch that only stuck around a few hours. There's a storm on the way though----

Who am I kidding. In winter in Wisconsin, there's always a snowstorm on the way.